He said things were easier when he thought his brother had died of a heart attack.

Each woman had a right to a hearing. Unless waived, such hearings are designed for prosecutors to present enough evidence to prove there is probable cause to warrant charges being moved to trial court.

At times, more detailS about cases emerge from such hearings; that is not expected to happen now.

Probable cause only means that there is some evidence linking the women to the alleged crimes.

If the case goes to trial, prosecutors must prove without a reasonable doubt that the two Staudte women were behind the alleged poisonings.

Both women are scheduled to be arraigned in trial court at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 16.